By Donna Astern
Asking for Prayer
You decide to ask for prayer and type out your request, hoping for a favorable outcome. You have needs and desires for which the intervention of the Spirit of God will make all the difference. Sending in a request is an act of faith, and perhaps, also of desperation.
Yet, sending in the request is not all that is needed.
After you click on “send” and while you wait for a response, it is time to hold up the shield of faith, keep your helmet on your head and draw your sword. You will do well to add your spiritual muscle, trusting in God’s goodness and mercy towards you.
(Ephesians 6:13, 16-17) Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm …in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
The spiritual armor you have been given is designed to enable you to stand strong in faith against the opposing forces who seek to discourage and hinder you.
Does God hear you when you pray?
Yes!
“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous And His ears are open to their cry.”
(Psalm 34:15)
The Lord invites you to bring your requests to Him. He wants to hear from you and wants you to ask for His help.
“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
Jesus said, “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22)
Notice the qualifier: “believing”. When you bring a request to the Lord (or send it in to the prayer team), your part is to ask expectantly. Anticipate a favorable answer!
Again Jesus said in Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.”
Believe that you already have received the answer which your eyes will see shortly. Some prayers are answered immediately; others take time.
When Jesus healed the ten lepers, they were told to go present themselves to the priest who would declare them clean (healed). As outcasts living outside of the village, it was somewhat of a walk to get to the priest. Believing what He said, they were on their way in obedience, when one of the ten looked at his skin and noticed he was healed and began to shout and give thanks to God. (Luke 17:14-15)
Another example is the prophet Daniel who prayed for three weeks before he had an angelic visitation. The angel Gabriel told him he had been sent as soon as Daniel began to pray. (Daniel 10:12-13)
And then there is the “Father of Faith”, Abraham. He had to wait 25 years for his promised son to be born, yet he stayed strong in faith the entire time which he demonstrated by giving glory to God.
“Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.” (Romans 4:19-21)
What about your situation?
If you don’t see an immediate answer…
- Look to the Word of God for strength to stand, persevere, and to grow even stronger in faith.
- Give glory to God by thanking Him for the answer, for the promises you read in the Scripture, for his unparalleled kindness, goodness, and mercy to you.
- Daily speak words of faith, not of doubt. Your words have power. (Mark 11:23)
Is there anything that you need to do? Someone you need to forgive? Do you sense the Lord prompting you to make a call, give an offering, visit a friend, pick up a book, or simply take a walk? Obey any nudges you receive that may lead to something the Lord has for you. - Choose to not give unnecessary attention to the contrary situation, especially when the request is about an unrepentant person. He may behave even worse while the warfare increases over his soul. Acknowledge the facts, BUT also acknowledge that prayer changes things.
- Don’t dictate how the Lord must answer the prayer. He may answer in a way that may be different from what you want, but is actually better for everyone concerned. For example, if you are praying for a job offer from a specific business, perhaps there is a better offer about to appear from a different company. What you really want is the right income opportunity for you.
- Be thankful for every sign of improvement, and be thankful for answered prayer whether you see a change or not.
Submit your prayer request here. We would enjoy hearing your praise reports of answered prayer!